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Posted
Going back to composition as Alan started out the thread. The Golden Circle, Harmonic Armature, and the rule of thirds are classical tools for making good compositions. Some talk about breaking the rule yet do not understand what is actually behind a good composition. It’s only after you become more experienced you have these rules behind your thinking as you compose. The Harmonic Armature would be particularly useful for complex compositions.
Posted
That is true Jenny. But first one needs to know (people do not like rules unfortunately) the guidelines lets say then one can let go. No difference from understanding warm and cool colours and values and composition. The way to construct a good painting is first composition, values, colour then finally detail in that order. If you instinctively do that then fine. Otherwise what is the point of art schools, academies and so on. Throw them away which has been done then what happens the art gets lost because the artist are not producing the art, of line form beauty and so on. That is why Atelier art school was formed in resent years because the art coming out was so, how can one say yuk. Personal expression comes after you have the foundation right.
Posted
Jenny if they are self taught as you say, they must learn from something it does not come out of thin air. Actually I feel self taught is the better way, but you still have tolearn and apply. Ok Lewis as you have it.
I take back all I have said its completely wrong, you think it up yourself so thats the end of it.
Posted
I’m self taught and never used any one the above with the exception of the rule of thirds when I first started I had a grid I laid over the painting but soon became bored of doing it . I though it was something I must do rather than wanted to , it was a couple of years into painting when I thought about doing a GCE A level, and read about the curriculum.
I think art lessons are essential for some people , more so nowadays when very few draw or paint for a hobby , growing up sketching , painting I think you develop the skills without actually understanding the principles behind them, hope I’m making sense. I do sometimes wonder if in the past people tried to make art a science thing with the rules that were developed, I’m not saying they don’t work or that they shouldn’t be used it’s just that I personally can’t see the use for them . I will concede that the rule of thirds is useful ,I’ve used it in photos and have it as a setting on my digital cameras , I do t how think about it when I’m setting up a painting, if it looks wrong I instinctively know and correct it as I go along .
I don’t think you are wrong at all John , I’m sure in an academic setting when people are learning the basics it would be impossible to let everyone work it out for themselves hence a set of basic rule or formula is essential.